Ukraine and Flanders embark on new phase of partnership in support of young people
The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the Department of Culture, Youth and Media of Flanders have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which opens a new phase of systematic cooperation in youth policy and youth activities.
The document was inked by Ukraine's Minister of Youth and Sports Matvii Bidnyi and Secretary General of the Department of Culture, Youth and Media of Flanders Bart Temmerman.
The signing ceremony was attended by Ukraine's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Belgium Yaroslav Melnyk, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine for European Integration Viktoriia Riasna, Head of the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration Nataliia Radchuk, as well as representatives of both sides.
The Memorandum lays the foundation for a long-term partnership between Ukraine and Flanders in the field of youth policy and youth activities. The agreements cover joint initiatives in support of young people, the development of youth exchanges and mobility, mutual learning and the exchange of practices that strengthen democracy, peace and solidarity, and help young people become more actively involved in public life and international opportunities.
Matvii Bidnyi thanked the Flemish side for its consistent support of Ukraine and commended the resumption this year of Flanders' voluntary contribution to the European Youth Foundation's Special Calls for Proposals in support of Ukrainian youth and youth organisations.
For Flanders, this is a logical continuation of its long-standing policy within the Council of Europe's youth instruments, aimed at inclusion and support for young people in times of crisis and forced relocation. In the context of full-scale war, these approaches have become a practical support for Ukraine - additional mechanisms that help young people to act, unite and rebuild their communities.
"The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is an important milestone in strengthening our partnership in the field of youth policy and youth work. The document creates a basis for long-term cooperation between our institutions and reflects a shared vision of investing in young people as a key factor in democratic development and recovery," said Matvii Bidnyi, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.
"The Memorandum confirms our commitment to the development of youth mobility, exchanges and initiatives driven by young people themselves. It opens up new opportunities to unlock the potential of young people and strengthen the European youth community," said Bart Temmerman, Secretary General of the Department of Culture, Youth and Media at the Flemish Government.
Background information
Flanders is an example of a systematic approach to youth policy: sustainable mechanisms for youth participation in decision-making, reliance on high-quality youth work infrastructure and effective organisation of international mobility. For Ukraine, this means partnership with an institution that thinks long-term goals and consistently invests in youth policy as a resource for social sustainability. This partnership provides strong support for Ukraine's international youth policy – systematic cooperation to support young people and strengthen their presence in European programmes and networks.